Sweet 16 countdown: Can Weddington fool the doubters? Coach Andy Capone thinks so
Editor’s Note: The Observer is taking a look at the 16 teams that are ranked in the preseason Sweet 16 prep football poll, released in random order. The true order of the teams will be revealed later this month.
Last year’s starting quarterback is gone. So is the leading receiver.
The team’s standout running back from a year ago is at Wofford College. And the running back before that is starting at Clemson.
So it sounds as if the run of success might be at an end for Weddington’s football program, right?
“Some people seem to think so,” Warriors head coach Andy Capone said last week, during the squad’s preseason camp at Wingate University.
“I don’t know,” Capone adds. “Maybe we’ll surprise some people.”
If so, it will be with new faces at some of the skilled positions.
Last year’s offensive leaders — quarterback Grady Brosterhous and running back Kyle Parsons — are at Virginia and Wofford, respectively. And, of course, the leader of those state title teams, Will Shipley, is now a key part of the Clemson offense.
But losing is not part of the football culture at Weddington.
The Warriors have a combined record of 118-23 in the past 10 years. And they have plenty of offensive and defensive talent on hand for another big run this fall.
Senior tight end Griffin Reimer has offers from more than two dozen FBS and FCS programs. Linebacker Jack Collins and linemen Josh Moraja and Frank Geosits, all seniors, are getting heavy attention from FBS schools.
There are new faces, like running back Kobe McGill, who moved in the offseason from Arizona to North Carolina, and receiver Thomas Davis Jr. You might have heard of his father — former Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis Sr.
“He’ll get attention because of his father, but he could be a really good player,” Capone said of the younger Davis.
McGill or senior Vinny Jordan might step into the position that Parsons and Shipley had with the Weddington attack.
“Will this year’s running back be that good?” Capone asks. “I don’t know. But there’s promise. We’ll always have a strong running attack.”
Depth probably won’t be a problem. More than 120 players were on hand for Weddington’s camp last week.
“A lot of them are young, but we expect that they’ll pick up things quickly,” Capone said. “With that many players, you’d expect that we’ll have depth.”
The big question is at quarterback.
The Warriors have a full-fledged battle for the starting position this preseason between junior Tyler Budge, a 6-foot-3, 190-pounder who is more of a pure passer, and senior Knox Willingham, a 6-2, 200-pounder who likes to take off and run with the ball.
“They are both talented, and they’re battling it out,” Capone said. “But I feel like we’ll be fine there.”
Another question mark is the schedule.
The Warriors open with always-tough Charlotte Christian, then face private school powerhouse Providence Day. The rest of the nonconference schedule includes playoff contender Ardrey Kell and a road game against Mecklenburg County High, a newly merged Virginia high school expected to field a strong team.
And then Weddington plows into its Southern Carolina 4A schedule.
Four Southern Carolina schools made the playoffs last year, and three reached the third round.
“It’s a darn good conference, and it’ll be just as strong this season,” Capone said.
He said Weddington will add a few wrinkles this year, but basically, fans can expect typical Warrior football.
“We’ll play hard, and we’ll play smart,” he said. “We’ll try to take advantage of whatever the other team gives us. Let’s see how it turns out.”
Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle
Inside Look: Weddington Warriors
Head Coach: Andy Capone (fifth season)
2021 Record: 12-2
Returning lettermen: 35
Returning starters: 12
Key Returnees: TE/LB Griffin Reimer (6-3, 230, Sr.); WR/DB Zymill Patterson (6-0, 170, Sr.); LB Jack Collins (6-2, 205, Sr.); OL/DL Frank Geosits (6-3, 295, Sr.); DB Sam Neely (6-2, 180, Jr.); TE/DE Brooks Mauk (6-3, 210); QB Knox Willingham (6-2, 200, Sr.)
Fresh Faces: RB Kobe McGill (5-7, 155, Soph.); WR Evan Gilbert (5-10, 180, Sr.)
